Seonjang means thread binding in Korean.
Seonjang became the predominant book format during Joseon dynasty of Korea (1392-1897). The binding technique is similar to Chinese Xian zhuang binding, but there are differences in the average size, number of stitches, color of thread and book cover decorations.
Seonjang became the predominant book format during Joseon dynasty of Korea (1392-1897). The binding technique is similar to Chinese Xian zhuang binding, but there are differences in the average size, number of stitches, color of thread and book cover decorations.
Paper: Hanji (한지)
Hanji is made from the inner bark of paper mulberry (dak in Korean), a tree native to Korea. Throughout the history of Korean paper making, paper mulberry remains the major fiber. Since the fibers are relatively short, they must have been chopped as well as beaten. The trees were grown with great care, sometimes sprayed with scents.
Hanji is made from the inner bark of paper mulberry (dak in Korean), a tree native to Korea. Throughout the history of Korean paper making, paper mulberry remains the major fiber. Since the fibers are relatively short, they must have been chopped as well as beaten. The trees were grown with great care, sometimes sprayed with scents.
Art of making Hanji
Watch Aimee Lee's demonstrate some of the many steps to making paper. She is an artist, papermaker, writer, and the leading Hanji researcher. |
Conservation: Korean Hanji Paper Making
This process is explained by master paper maker Jang Seong Woo to V&A paper conservator Susan Catcher, from the choosing of the raw material, to the cooking, cleaning and pulping that enables a paper sheet to be cast using a bamboo frame or bal. |
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Sewing
The thread was generally made of hemp, cotton or silk, dyed and then coated with beeswax.The bookbinding thread was waxed with beeswax before stitching. Typical number of outer sewing holes is five and the space of sewing holes is evenly spaced. Usually, five holes were pierced through the covers 12–15mm from the spine.
Cover
Book cover is multi-layered papers from printed and writing scrap papers to make the cover thick and outer layer usually is tinted in yellow often sewn
with red or blue thread. One of the reasons for dyed cover is to repel insects. Korean book cover is also decorated with some design overall created by burnishing on a carved woodblock, which makes the cover esthetic and protects the text pages by making air gap between the cover and text pages. Also, the pattern of the book cover is different depending on the time period. The covers are cut slightly larger than the text block and the four edges were folded in. On the front cover, title strips were attached at the upper left or the title was simply written on the cover without putting on extra paper.
The thread was generally made of hemp, cotton or silk, dyed and then coated with beeswax.The bookbinding thread was waxed with beeswax before stitching. Typical number of outer sewing holes is five and the space of sewing holes is evenly spaced. Usually, five holes were pierced through the covers 12–15mm from the spine.
Cover
Book cover is multi-layered papers from printed and writing scrap papers to make the cover thick and outer layer usually is tinted in yellow often sewn
with red or blue thread. One of the reasons for dyed cover is to repel insects. Korean book cover is also decorated with some design overall created by burnishing on a carved woodblock, which makes the cover esthetic and protects the text pages by making air gap between the cover and text pages. Also, the pattern of the book cover is different depending on the time period. The covers are cut slightly larger than the text block and the four edges were folded in. On the front cover, title strips were attached at the upper left or the title was simply written on the cover without putting on extra paper.
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Chinch'an ŭigwe
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Bibliography
Bong, Seong-Ki, Lee, Hye-Eun. (2013). A Bibliographical Analysis of Korean Rare Books in Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Journal of Studies in Bibliography, 56, 403-437.
Ellis Tinios. (n.d.). The Physical Properties of Hokusai's Books. http://pulverer.si.edu/node/171
Minah Song. (2009). The history and characteristics of traditional Korean books and bookbinding. Journal of the Institute of Conservation, 32(1), 53-78, DOI:10.1080/19455220802630743
Munn, J. (2009). Side-stitched books of China, Korea and Japan in western collections. Journal of the Institute of Conservation, 32(1), 103–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/19455220802630792
Bong, Seong-Ki, Lee, Hye-Eun. (2013). A Bibliographical Analysis of Korean Rare Books in Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Journal of Studies in Bibliography, 56, 403-437.
Ellis Tinios. (n.d.). The Physical Properties of Hokusai's Books. http://pulverer.si.edu/node/171
Minah Song. (2009). The history and characteristics of traditional Korean books and bookbinding. Journal of the Institute of Conservation, 32(1), 53-78, DOI:10.1080/19455220802630743
Munn, J. (2009). Side-stitched books of China, Korea and Japan in western collections. Journal of the Institute of Conservation, 32(1), 103–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/19455220802630792
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